Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 3

1
<w lemma="%2A%29%2Farcei">Ἄρξει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnwn">χρόνων</w> <w lemma="o%29lumpia%5Cs">ὀλυμπιὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28katosth%2F">ἑκατοστή</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tettarakosth%2F">τετταρακοστή</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuqei%5Cs">προσαγορευθεὶς</w> <w lemma="summaxiko%5Cs">συμμαχικὸς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos">πόλεμος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fnegke">ἐξήνεγκε</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w>, <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fou">Δημητρίου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%2Fs">υἱός</w>, <w lemma="path%5Cr">πατὴρ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsin">κατοικοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhs">Κοίλης</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxos">Ἀντίοχος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Dos">Πτολεμαῖος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afilopa%2Ftwr">Φιλοπάτωρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmhsan">ἐπολέμησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous:">ἀλλήλους·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="susta%5Cs">συστὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fousin">προσαγορεύουσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29annibiako%2Fn">Ἀννιβιακόν</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="sunexh%3D">συνεχῆ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="teleutai%2Fois">τελευταίοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ara%2Ftou">Ἀράτου</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuwni%2Fou">Σικυωνίου</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>.
3
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="spora%2Fdas">σποράδας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="suntelei%2Fas">συντελείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28onei%5C">οἱονεὶ</w> <w lemma="swmatoeidh%3D">σωματοειδῆ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>, <w lemma="sumple%2Fkesqai%2F">συμπλέκεσθαί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29italika%5Cs">Ἰταλικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuka%5Cs">Λιβυκὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikai%3Ds">Ἑλληνικαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w>.
5
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fmeqa">πεποιήμεθα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kuriw%2Ftaton">κυριώτατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29nu%2Fsqai">ἠνύσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frshsan">ἐθάρσησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="e%29ktei%2Fnein">ἐκτείνειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peraiou%3Dsqai">περαιοῦσθαι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqh">συνήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frima">γνώριμα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmata">πολιτεύματα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhth%2Fsanta">ἀμφισβητήσαντα</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fas">ποίας</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhqe%2Fntes">ὁρμηθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftois">τηλικούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fxeiro%2Fs">πρόχειρός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnh">προγεγενημένη</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamis">δύναμις</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="u%28pela%2Fbomen">ὑπελάβομεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcasqai">συντάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblon">βύβλον</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mhdei%5Cs">μηδεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%5Cs">ἐπιστὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="diaporh%3D%7C">διαπορῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zhth%3D%7C">ζητῇ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fois">ποίοις</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fois">διαβουλίοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fais">ποίαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fais">χορηγίαις</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblwn">βύβλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnousin">ἐντυγχάνουσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgois">εὐλόγοις</w> <w lemma="a%29formai%3Ds">ἀφορμαῖς</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w>
The date from which I propose to begin my history is the 140th Olympiad [220‑216 B.C.], and the events are the following: (1) in Greece the so‑called Social War, the first waged against the Aetolians by the Achaeans in league with and under the leadership of Philip of Macedon, the son of Demetrius and father of Perseus, (2) in Asia the war for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a> between Antiochus and Ptolemy Philopator,
(3) in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, and the adjacent regions, the war between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, usually known as the Hannibalic War. These events immediately succeed those related at the end of the work of Aratus of Sicyon.
Previously the doings of the world had been, so to say, dispersed, as they were held together by no unity of initiative, results, or locality;
but ever since this date history has been an organic whole, and the affairs of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> have been interlinked with those of Greece and Asia, all leading up to one end.
And this is my reason for beginning their systematic history from that date.
For it was owing to their defeat of the Carthaginians in the Hannibalic War that the Romans, feeling that the chief and most essential step in their scheme of universal aggression had now been taken, were first emboldened to reach out their hands to grasp the rest and to cross with an army to Greece and the continent of Asia.
Now were we Greeks well acquainted with the two states which disputed the empire of the world, it would not perhaps have been necessary for me to deal at all with their previous history, or to narrate what purpose guided them, and on what sources of strength they relied, in entering upon such a vast undertaking.
But as neither the former power nor the earlier history of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> is familiar to most of us Greeks, I thought it necessary to prefix this Book and the next to the actual history,
in order that no one after becoming engrossed in the narrative proper may find himself at a loss, and ask by what counsel and trusting to what power and resources the Romans embarked on that enterprise which has made them lords over land and sea in our part of the world;
but that from these Books and the preliminary sketch in them, it may be clear to readers that they had quite adequate grounds for conceiving the ambition of a world-empire and adequate means for achieving their purpose.